2026. no 1. Valentin Bityukov

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22378/kio.2026.1.22-29

Relations between the Great Horde and the Crimean Khanate in 1481–1485

Valentin Bityukov
Divnogorye Museum-Reserve
Divnogorye, Russian Federation
Voronezh State University
Voronezh, Russian Federation

Abstract. During the second half of the 15th and early 16th centuries, the Great Horde and the Crimean Khanate were in a state of confrontation. They fought over territory that could be used for nomadic life, as well as over the Golden Horde legacy. However, there were periods of peaceful relations. One such period was the peaceful lull of 1481–1485. The aim of this study is to examine the reasons for the peace between the Great Horde and the Crimean Khanate and the chronology of events from 1481–1485. Research materials include Russian chronicles, the Lithuanian Metrica, and an ambassadorial charter. Results and scientific novelty: It was discovered that the temporary cessation of hostility between the two yurts was caused by the weakening of the Great Horde after the death of Khan Akhmat. This truce was beneficial only for Mengli Giray, who received Timur’s beklarbek and the sons of Akhmat and kept them in Crimea for a long time, which inevitably led to a new Crimean-Horde conflict.

Keywords: Great Horde; Crimean Khanate; Akhmat; Musa; Yamgurchi; Mengli Giray; Timur; Akhmatov children; Murtaza; Sheikh Ahmed

For citation: Bityukov V.A. Relations between the Great Horde and the Crimean Khanate in 1481–1485. Krymskoe istoricheskoe obozrenie=Crimean Historical Review. 2026, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 22–29. https://doi.org/10.22378/kio.2026.1.22-29 (In Russian)

Financial Support: The study was supported by grant No. 26-18-20036 from the Russian Science Foundation, “The Voronezh Region in the System of Military-Political Relations of Medieval Rus’,” https://rscf.ru/project/26-18-20036/

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Valentin S. Bityukov – Researcher, Divnogorye Museum-Reserve (27, Divny Lane, Divnogorye farmstead 397970, Russian Federation); Postgraduate student, Voronezh State University (1, Voronezh University Square, Voronezh 394018, Russian Federation); ORCID: 0009-0005-1455-1895. E-mail: vbitzzz7@gmail.com

Received 12.01.2026

Accepted 12.03.2026